I posted this over in GD, and it is on the subject we are talking about

[kwassa]

to quote my own post:

Drudge supporters response to a black columnist, Donna Britt

This is an excerpt from a Washington Post article that discusses assumptions about people based on their appearance. It is actually mostly about the response that young black classical musicians get to their profession.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51934-2005Feb...

When Life's Music Is Heard Only In Stereotype
By Donna Britt
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page B01

excerpt:

There's nothing more frustrating than people who think they know who you are.

Some are certain of what you "must" be thinking based on your gender. Others "know" your opinions and preferences in everything from music to politics to movies based on your age, color, income or Zip code.

(jump)

But we love categories. Squeezing folks into them -- whether or not they fit -- gives us a false sense of security, control, even superiority.

But it's awful for those who get squeezed, as I was reminded recently after taking Internet commentator Matt Drudge to task for trying to scuttle comedian Chris Rock's appearance as host of Sunday's Oscars.

E-mail responses were almost perfectly divided between "You go, girl" Rock supporters and appalled, Rock-belongsunder-a-Rock Drudge fans, many of whom blithely -- and wrongly -- informed me of my political history, hidden motivations and feelings about dozens of unrelated issues.

Based solely on one column and a photo.

Several missives pronounced me misguided, hypocritical or merely, well, black. One sweet-natured respondent wrote that though Rock and Drudge matter, I was "an obscure nothing" who has a column "only due to skin color." My favorite -- "you are the local news ho" -- was followed closely by those suggesting that I challenged Drudge only so I would be posted on his site.

[msgadget]

1. Excellent, Kwassa,

Thanks for sharing this with us! It's something we've discussed here before, how people put each other into categories. They make assumptions based on where they place us in their little universes.

There's nothing more frustrating than people who think they know who you are.

Perfect, absolutely perfect.

[kwassa]

3. Thanks, but no one in GD responded at all!

I guess because it had nothing to do with fundamentalists or Gannon or both.

I think some of these people have big blinders on.

[msgadget]

4. That's odd.

Do you think it's too touchy a subject? Sometimes it's a matter of post count and sometimes it matters which popular person posts something. I still think it's a gem and reget we didn't get to talk about it in an even more mixed setting. Good lookin' out.

[kk897]

5. I responded!

I was horrified!

sigh. most of my DU posts go unnoticed, anyway...

[GOPFighter]

2. Donna Britt is a gem

She doesn't get nearly the respect she deserves. Few newspaper columnists can move me to tears, but when she wrote about the death of her brother years ago I broke down and cried.

[Karenina]

6. Thank you so much, Kwassa

That was a BULLSEYE. :nuke: